As terms like “natural” “organic” and “green” become more and more popular to consumers, it is becoming more and more relevant to companies, which has led to some producers switching their production methods, while some have been updating their marketing strategy. This happens enough that a term was created for it, greenwashing. Greenwashing is when disinformation is disseminated by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible image.
A green label, a paper bottle 9paper on the outside with a plastic interior), phrases such as: “including a percentage of recycled material,” “recyclable packaging,” “sustainable” or adding the 3 arrows. The bottom line is, consumers are responsible for doing their own research.

With a greater shift in environmental awareness among consumers, profit from greenwashing will continue to exist among corporations. So if greenwashing is going to be the new normal, how do individual consumers stop it? People can raise awareness to their government representatives, start petitions, broadcast news on social media, or make a conscious decision on their purchases, and to spend more on products from local or smaller companies – ones that have little to gain from greenwashing, or perhaps cannot afford the promotional dollars.

With the amount of independent companies selling groceries, skincare, and cleaning products, it makes it a lot easier to purchase some of these everyday products. However it becomes more difficult when buying a new car, gasoline or entertainment purchases download David Suzuki’s Greenwashing Cheat Sheet here). The volume of greenwashers makes the first argument, contacting your local government representatives, corporations, and other policy makers, more of a global solution?

It seems that in an age where consumers can influence policy change through product boycotting and #grabyourwallet style campaigns to put pressure on retailers to take their environmental stewardship seriously. This means being conscious and aware of purchases, it may be impossible to boycott all of these companies, but change within a few could lead to change among many more.